Restoring files and settings after a clean install of XP Pro

[Pat]

I'm in the process of doing a clean install of Windows XP Pro on a machine
which had become corrupted. Prior to this, I did a complete backup of files
and settings for all users. What I'm not sure about is, after XP is
installed, whether I need to recreate all the user accounts (there are 6 in
total, including the admin) before doing the restore, or whether the restore
will create these for me?

Also, I assume I should reinstall all the applications first, before
restoring the files and settings. Is that correct? Suppose I miss one or
two (downloads I can no longer find). Will this cause any problems with the
restore?

Thanks for any help with this. It's my first time through this process. -Pat

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I'm in the process of doing a clean install of Windows XP Pro on a
machine which had become corrupted. Prior to this, I did a
complete backup of files and settings for all users. What I'm not
sure about is, after XP is installed, whether I need to recreate
all the user accounts (there are 6 in total, including the admin)
before doing the restore, or whether the restore will create these
for me?
Also, I assume I should reinstall all the applications first, before
restoring the files and settings. Is that correct? Suppose I miss
one or two (downloads I can no longer find). Will this cause any
problems with the restore?

Thanks for any help with this. It's my first time through this
process. -Pat

How did yu backup the files and settings? With FAST?

If so - you need to have all the applications installed and all of the users
(each one - indivdually) will need to logon and use FAST to import their
individually exported profile.

The restore will work even if you don;t have the applications installed -
but - when the applications get installed - their defaults will be your
settings.

 

[Rock]

I'm in the process of doing a clean install of Windows XP Pro on a machine
which had become corrupted. Prior to this, I did a complete backup of
files and settings for all users. What I'm not sure about is, after XP is
installed, whether I need to recreate all the user accounts (there are 6
in total, including the admin) before doing the restore, or whether the
restore will create these for me?

Also, I assume I should reinstall all the applications first, before
restoring the files and settings. Is that correct? Suppose I miss one or
two (downloads I can no longer find). Will this cause any problems with
the restore?

For reference here's a link with some info on FAST
http://aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm

 

[Pat]

I didn't use FAST. I used the Backup utility located in the system tools.
I think this is NTbackup. Does the previous advice still apply?

Thanks.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I'm in the process of doing a clean install of Windows XP Pro on a
machine which had become corrupted. Prior to this, I did a complete
backup of files and settings for all users. What I'm not sure about
is, after XP is installed, whether I need to recreate all the user
accounts (there are 6 in total, including the admin) before doing the
restore, or whether the restore will create these for me?

If you do a clean installation, everything on your drive will be gone,
including all the user accounts. Yes, you will need to recreate them.

Also, I assume I should reinstall all the applications first, before
restoring the files and settings. Is that correct?

As far as data files, it doesn't matter. If you are talking about program
settings, yes you normally need to install an application before you restore
a file with settings for that application.

Suppose I miss
one or two (downloads I can no longer find). Will this cause any
problems with the restore?

I'm not at all clear what you're asking here. Can you provide a hypothetical
example?

 

[Rock]

I didn't use FAST. I used the Backup utility located in the system tools.
I think this is NTbackup. Does the previous advice still apply?

Ah, ok, when you said files and settings I jumped to the conclusion it was
the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard you had used. No, in this case, with
ntbackup reinstall the OS, create the accounts, reinstall the applications,
then restore the data from backups. I'm not sure what application settings
your talking about. For some programs they can be restored from a backup
file, for others they can't. Data can always be restored.

 

[Pat]

Ah, ok, when you said files and settings I jumped to the conclusion it was
the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard you had used. No, in this case,
with ntbackup reinstall the OS, create the accounts, reinstall the
applications, then restore the data from backups. I'm not sure what
application settings your talking about. For some programs they can be
restored from a backup file, for others they can't. Data can always be
restored.

Thanks. The main settings I was concerned about were email (from Outlook
XP), but I ended up just manually transferring these, so it all worked out.

-Pat

 

[Rock]

"Rock" wrote

Thanks. The main settings I was concerned about were email (from Outlook
XP), but I ended up just manually transferring these, so it all worked
out.

Ok, good, glad thinks are working out for you. Outlook or Outlook Express?
They are different programs, and there is no Outlook XP. There is Office XP
which is Office 2002 and that has a version of Outlook, 2002.